World Series: Game 4 quick hits

Boston Red Sox Mike Napoli, right, pulls Jonny Gomes' beard after Gomes hit a three run home run off of St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Seth Maness, left, during the sixth inning of Game 4 of baseball's World Series Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013, in St. Louis.(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
— AP

Boston Red Sox Mike Napoli, right, pulls Jonny Gomes' beard after Gomes hit a three run home run off of St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Seth Maness, left, during the sixth inning of Game 4 of baseball's World Series Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013, in St. Louis.(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
/ AP

The Red Sox called on five relievers and an unlikely playoff hero in a 4-2 win over the Cardinals to even the World Series at two games apiece.

HEROES

LF Jonny Gomes – Hitless in his first nine at-bats in the World Series, Gomes made his first knock really count for Boston, blasting a three-run homer in the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie. The homer came after 2B Dustin Pedroia’s two-out single and 1B David Ortiz drew a four-pitch walk. Gomes – who only started because Shane Victorino’s balky back kept him out of the lineup – also walked twice in four plate appearances.

Red Sox bullpen – Boston figured it’d need its bullpen when RHP Clay Buccholz got the start. He allowed an unearned run on three hits and three walks in four innings. After that, LHP Felix Doubront allowed a run in 2 2/3 innings and RHP Junichi Tazawa bailed LHP Craig Breslow out of trouble in the seventh with an inning-ending grounder from OF Matt Holliday. RHP John Lackey pitched a surprise perfect eighth and RHP Koji Uehara pitched a scoreless ninth to preserve the win.

1B David Ortiz – Of course, let’s not forget about Ortiz, the full-time DH making the start at first to keep his bat in the lineup. Good thing, too. He reached base in all four plate appearances, including a leadoff double in the fifth that led to Boston’s first run on SS Stephen Drew’s sacrifice fly, which tied the game at 1-1.

GOATS

RHP Lance Lynn – Seemingly cruising with two quick outs in the top of the sixth, Lynn suddenly faltered when he allowed Pedroia and Ortiz to reach base on a single and four-pitch walk, respectively, to end Lynn’s day with 89 pitches in 5 2/3 innings. He allowed only three hits, but walked three, including Ortiz to set up Gomes’ tie-breaking homer.

RHP Seth Maness – Of course, Lynn’s line would have looked a lot better had Maness been able to retire Gomes. But Boston’s left fielder hit the fifth sinker he threw into the Red Sox bullpen in left for a 4-1 lead. Maness was ultimately charged with one run on two hits and no walks over his inning of work.

KEY STAT

0 – Number of RBIs by Boston’s outfielders in the World Series before Gomes’ three-run homer.